Look Good, Feel Good

It has always been disheartening to know that you/a friend, a relative, or even a seatmate in the bus have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Often times, we lose heart, fear consumes us and worst, faith and hope slowly fade as each day goes by.

There are organizations and support groups that encourage and empower women with breast cancer - bringing them the good news that there's more to life and hope is boosted whenever doubt and apprehensions try to disturb their lives. One of these organizations is Rustans Essenses Foundation, a consumer driven foundation that focuses on wellness and the empowerment of women.

Last September, the foundation, headed by Esther Cuadra, its Executive Director, launched in Cebu the "Look Good, Feel Good" Workshop held at Rustan's Ayala. This workshop is in line with the organization's objectives of establishing a socio-civic commitment and its aim to play a meaningful role in the empowerment of Filipino women through education on total wellness. The workshop is part of the series the foundation has been conducting in Manila. It is their first time to bring it to Cebu. Hopefully, the workshop will continue in the coming years.

The Essenses Foundation together with I Can Serve Foundation headed by Mary Anne Solomon (as coordinator) invited cancer survivors to take part in this workshop that teaches them to beautify themselves using the make up/ beauty cosmetics, and as a result, would make them feel good inside and look good outside, as well. The sponsoring cosmetics company Christian Dior pampered the women survivors - teaching them the proper way of putting make up (day or night make up) and how to take care of their skin. A cancer patient's skin turns dry due to the treatments. That's why there's a need for them to be informed on the ways for proper skin care.

DTI Provincial Director Nelia Navarro, one of the workshop participants and a survivor herself said: "This is (referring to the make up session) what we need - to make ourselves look beautiful all the time. Some women, whenever they're diagnosed with breast cancer get depressed and, worse, feel they're ugly; little do they know that the more pampering we should allot ourselves if we have breast cancer."

Ms. Nelia is on her 5th stage of treatment and is very much involved with KAHAYAG Cancer Network. It is a support group that addresses the psycho-social aspect of the cancer survivors. They perform yoga, meditation and other activities that deal with the mind, soul and spirit. KAHAYAG Network is located at the Eduardo Aboitiz Center at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center.

"I encourage all the breast cancer survivors to fight the illness through positive thinking, instead of getting depressed," Navarro said energetically.

The Essenses Foundation and I Can Serve have been doing this workshop for a year now. Last year in Manila, they treated the cancer survivors to the spa and gave them beauty products for their beauty regimen, as part of their Look Good and Feel Good program. "For every P500 worth of Essenses Cosmetics purchased at Rustan's, P1 will go to the foundation. With this, we can help a lot of cancer survivors," Cuadra said.

With the complete transformation done by the Dior make-up instructors (headed by Maye Marfill), smiling faces and hopeful grins were seen in the faces of those beautiful women. Who would think that those cheerful women are battling against a serious illness? Hearing their giggles and watching them as they gleefully presented themselves to try the makeover session made me realize that there's hope...there's more to life...and that life is beautiful despite cancer.

"I have many people with breast cancer in my fitness classes who are back to 100 percent plus more, because their appreciation for life is heightened, and their lifestyle approach is enhanced and exemplary. These people are living life better than other friends who haven't been challenged by breast cancer." - Ronda Gates, hospital pharmacist and nutrition counselor